Kids' Oral Health

True or false: In the United States, tooth decay is a serious problem among children.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: True. In the United States, tooth decay, an infectious disease, affects more than 25 percent of children 2 to 5 years old and half of all children 12 to 15 years old.

Kids' Oral Health

Question 2 of 20 Correct

Which of these can lower your baby's risk of tooth decay?

Not sharing feeding spoons or licking your baby's pacifier.

Discouraging prolonged use of a training cup.

Wiping the baby's gums with a washcloth after he/she finishes eating.

All of the above.

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: All of the above. You can lower your baby's risk for developing tooth decay and cavities in several ways, including not sharing saliva, encouraging him to use a regular cup by age 1 and wiping his or her gums with a washcloth or damp gauze pad after meals.

Kids' Oral Health

Question 3 of 20 Correct

All children should have their first appointment with a dentist by which age milestone?

1 month

9 months

1 year

3 years

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: All children should see their dentist no later than their first birthdays. After that, they should see their dentist at recommended intervals, often every six months.

Kids' Oral Health

Question 4 of 20 Correct

If your child needs a bottle to go down for a nap or to sleep at night, what should you put in it?

Breastmilk

Juice

Formula

Water

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: Water is the only drink you should put in your child's bottle if he or she needs it to fall asleep. All of the others, including breastmilk, contain varying amounts of sugar, which bacteria in your baby's mouth feast on, encouraging tooth decay.

Kids' Oral Health

Question 5 of 20 Correct

True or false: Only older children and adults have to worry about tooth decay.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: False. Tooth decay can begin as soon as your baby's first tooth erupts. Even though primary ("baby") teeth will eventually be replaced by permanent teeth, decay in your baby's teeth can damage the permanent teeth, which are growing in the baby's gums.

Kids' Oral Health

Question 6 of 20 Correct

At what age should children be flossing their teeth?

3 years

6 years

9 years

12 years

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: Introduce dental floss by age 6. Until your child has enough hand dexterity, you will need to floss his teeth for him. Ask your dentist or dental hygentist for tips on flossing your child's teeth.

Kids' Oral Health

Question 7 of 20 Correct

At what age do children begin losing their primary ("baby") teeth?

4 years

5 years

6 years

7 years

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: Your child should begin losing his baby teeth in early elementary school, or around age 6. Baby teeth usually fall out in the same order they came in: the two bottom front teeth first, followed by the two top front teeth.

Kids' Oral Health

Question 8 of 20 Correct

By what age should children have all of their secondary ("permanent") teeth?

10 years

11 years

12 years

13 years

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: By age 12, your child should have all of his secondary teeth. If he has not lost all of his primary teeth by this age, make an appointment with your dentist. If baby teeth don't fall out before permanent teeth begin growing in, your child's teeth may become crowded and cause him pain.

Kids' Oral Health

Question 9 of 20 Correct

True or false: Finger- and thumb-sucking tend to stop before age 4 without much intervention.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: Sucking thumbs or fingers is completely normal for babies and young children. However, some children have trouble quitting. As a result, their teeth may begin to shift forward, and the upper jaw may not develop correctly. If your child is still sucking his thumb or fingers after age 4, talk with your dentist about how best to help him or her stop.

Kids' Oral Health

Question 10 of 20 Correct

Which of these is normal for children to experience during teething?

Fussiness

Sore gums

Loss of appetite

All of the above

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: All of the above. You can treat your baby's tender gums by gently rubbing the gum with a clean finger, a small, cool spoon or a wet gauze pad. A clean teething ring may help, too.

Kids' Oral Health

Question 11 of 20 Correct

Which of these signs indicate your child may need to see an orthodontist?

Your child has crooked, protruding or crowded teeth .

Your child is experiencing speech difficulties.

Your child is in middle school and still has some of his or her primary ("baby") teeth.

All of the above

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: All of the above. You should also make an appointment with an orthodontist if your child has difficulty chewing or biting; grinds or clenches his or her teeth; or has jaws that shift, make sounds or protrude or retrude. The sooner a problem is found, the easier it will be to treat.

Kids' Oral Health

Question 12 of 20 Correct

By what age should your child have his first orthodontic visit?

4 years

7 years

10 years

13 years

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: While some dentists recommend waiting until all of the child's adult teeth have come in, many orthodontists recommend starting sooner -- around age 6 or 7 -- to catch any problems early.

Kids' Oral Health

Question 13 of 20 Correct

True or false: You should begin brushing your child's teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste as soon as his or her teeth come in.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: False. As soon as your child's teeth begin to erupt, brush them gently with a child-size toothbrush and water. Once your child is age 2, begin brushing his or her teeth with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Continue this regimen twice a day until your child is 6 or 7, and continue to help with flossing as needed.

Kids' Oral Health

Question 14 of 20 Correct

Which of these can help treat your child's bad breath?

Scheduling regular dental visits.

Making sure he or she is brushing and flossing regularly.

Drinking plenty of water.

All of the above.

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: All of the above. If your child has bad breath, or halitosis, proper dental care may help stop the problem. Make sure your child is brushing and flossing regularly, and schedule regular dental check-ups. Eating a balanced diet and getting plenty of water can also help. Do NOT let your child use mouthwashes that contain alcohol, as these can poison him or her.

Kids' Oral Health

Question 15 of 20 Correct

True or false: Adolescents are at a higher risk for periodontal disease than young children.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: True. Adolescents and pre-teens can be more at risk for periodontal disease because they may become lazy about practicing good oral self-care. Hormonal changes increase the risk, too. Encourage your child to brush and floss twice a day and eat a balanced diet, and maintain regular check-ups.

Kids' Oral Health

Question 16 of 20 Correct

Once a year, your dentist may take x-rays of your child's mouth. Why are these x-rays important?

An x-ray can detect tooth decay in a tooth or around a filling.

An x-ray can determine if there is enough space in the mouth to accommodate all incoming teeth.

An x-ray can check for the development of wisdom teeth.

All of the above

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: Dental x-rays can help your child's dentist see things he or she might not otherwise be able to detect, such as tiny areas of decay, the position of unerupted teeth and the development of wisdom teeth and their impact on the jaw.

Kids' Oral Health

Question 17 of 20 Correct

True or false: Children's wisdom teeth should always be removed.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: False. There's no steadfast rule that determines whether or not your child should have his or her wisdom teeth removed. If his wisdom teeth are causing pain, have become impacted or infected, or are posing a problem to surrounding teeth, your child's dentist or orthodontist may recommend having them removed. But if they can erupt without affecting your child's jaw or other teeth, it's safe to leave them in.

Kids' Oral Health

Question 18 of 20 Correct

At what age do wisdom teeth generally erupt (come in)?

4 to 8 years old

9 to 12 years old

13 to 17 years old

18 to 22 years old

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: Wisdom teeth most often erupt between ages 18 and 22. Young people in their late teens to early 20s should have an evaluation to make sure their wisdom teeth are not causing problems.

Kids' Oral Health

Question 19 of 20 Correct

True or false: Children with braces shouldn't floss so as to avoid damaging the braces.

TRUE

FALSE

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: False. Everyone, including children with braces, should floss at least once a day. It may be difficult to floss because of the wires, but it can be done. Have your child's orthodontist demonstrate the best way to do it.

Kids' Oral Health

Question 20 of 20 Correct

Which of these foods should your child avoid if he has braces?

Caramel

Hard candy

Popcorn

All of the above

Correct!Sorry, that’s incorrect.

The correct answer is: All of the above. Foods that can get stuck in teeth such as caramel, hard candy and popcorn should be avoided while wearing braces. In addition to increasing your child's risk for gum disease or cavities, these foods can break or pop a wire or bracket from the braces. Ask your child's orthodontist for a complete list of foods your child should avoid.

More Quizzes

Teaching children good oral hygiene habits early can lead to a lifetime of good dental health. You can prevent children from getting cavities by taking care of their teeth as soon as they start to come in. Depending on their teeth...

, children may need help with flossing until they are a little bit older.